Update 8/13: Metallica will kick off its first big North American tour in four years on Oct. 21 in Glendale, Ariz. The Bay Area show will be Dec. 20 at Oracle Arena in Oakland. Lamb of God and the Sword will open. We’ll pass along ticket info when we get it. Â

Just got word that the new Metallica album, “Death Magnetic,” will be out on Sept. 12.

There’s been a good advance buzz for this one, which is being produced by Rick Rubin, the knob-twiddler of choice for mature musicians trying to figure out where to go next. The topic of the boys from Marin’s new opus even came up a few weeks ago when I chatted on the phone with David Draiman of Disturbed about the state of metal and hard rock. (I know I have at least one Draiman fan reading out there.) Continue Reading →